Carrie Underwood

In a recent poll by AOL, 1.3 million American Idol fans cast their votes for the Most Popular American Idol, and Carrie Underwood led the pack, managing to pull in 54 percent of the vote.

Carrie took home the American Idol crown in 2005. 

With only 26 percent of the vote, the first ever American Idol - Kelly Clarkson - came in second.

Meanwhile, American Idol co-judge Simon Cowell would like to see Geordies Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, popularly known as “Ant and Dec,” replace host Ryan Seacrest as Seacrest moves over to sit in Larry King’s chair on CNN. 

Carrie Underwood suited up to participate in the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge, held on Wednesday June 4 in Nashville’s Greer Stadium. Carrie had the honor of being the lead-off batter for the Grand Ole Opry Live team at the event, which is in it’s 18th year. 

Carrie Underwood took home the award for Female Vocalist of the Year at last night’s 43rd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, which was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Congratulations, Carrie!

For a complete list of winners, click here.

Carrie Underwood was inducted as the newest member of The Grand Ole Opry by fellow Opry member Garth Brooks.

Brooks presented Underwood with The Opry Members Award, The award’s wooden base is made from the Pews at The Ryman Auditorium, The first home of The Grand Ole Opry.

The induction ceremony was held on Saturday May 10, during OPRY LIVE on Great American Country.   

More photos from the event. Enjoy!

This is a bit of older news and since it wasn’t posted on the blog before, I thought I would mention that Carrie was named by “Dear Doctor” magazine has having the 2008 female celebrity “Smile Of The Year. “ 

Who would disagree with that?

This was probaby a dream come true for Carrie - I can imagine she was both shocked and surprised when, after singing “I Told You So,” originally by Randy Travis, the man himself joined her onstage where he invited her to join the Grand Ole Opry.

Said Travis:

“To end your birthday week, I was asked by the management here at the Grand Ole Opry to ask you if you would like to be their next member.”

Pete Fisher, the Opry’s vice president and general manager, said he and his staff had been working on the surprise for two months:

“We are just happy we succeeding in keeping this one under wraps as long as we have. When we seek out candidates for Opry membership, we are not only looking for artists who achieve extraordinary things with their career as Carrie has done, but for artists who really show a sincere connection to the Opry and all that it stands for. Just days after she won American Idol, Carrie made it a priority to debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage. And throughout what has really been quite a fast pace for her, she has made the Opry a priority.”

Carrie’s two albums have sold 9 million copies and she’s won three Grammys and four CMA Awards - including two awards for Female Vocalist.

She will be inducted this Saturday, May 10 at 8 p.m. ET during a live broadcast on the Great American Country network.

More photos of her surprise invitation:

Hi Everyone - it’s Tina with more fabulous Carrie Underwood news!

Carrie will be performing at the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, where she’s also nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. The awards will be televised live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS.

Also look for Toby Keith, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Taylor Swift, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and others to pitch in, whle Kenny Chesney and George Strait will perform their duet “Shiftwork” from Chesney’s album, “Poets & Pirates.” This will be the first time the pair have performed this song live. Both Chesney and Strait are nominated for multiple Academy of Country Music awards, including Entertainer of the Year.

If you missed the list of nominess, click here to visit the official site of the Academy of Country Music.

Billboard has an article about Carrie Underwood’s new single “So Small”. Not only is it the highest debuting entry of 2007, it is the highest new entry from a female solo artist since 1964. Here’s the article:

 ”‘SMALL’ IS BIG: You already knew that country radio couldn’t wait to play the first Carrie Underwood single from her second album. So you shouldn’t be surprised that “So Small” (Arista) blasts onto Hot Country Songs at No. 20. It’s not only the highest new entry of 2007, it’s the highest new entry ever for a solo female artist since January 1964, when the chart expanded from 30 to 50 positions.

It goes without saying then that “So Small” is Underwood’s highest-debuting title, besting the No. 39 bow of “Jesus, Take the Wheel” in November 2005.

“So Small” is Underwood’s eighth chart entry in just over two years. Her chart career began with “Bless the Broken Road,” a collaboration with Rascal Flatts that debuted and peaked at No. 50 the week of June 11, 2005.

Underwood is one of four “American Idol” alumnae in the top 20 of this week’s country chart. The other three all reach their highest positions on this chart, all in the same week. Kelly Clarkson reaches the top five, as her duet with Reba McEntire on “Because of You” (MCA) edges up 6-5. Bucky Covington rises 7-6 with “A Different World” (Lyric Street) and Kellie Pickler strolls 15-14 with “I Wonder” (BNA), topping the No. 15 peak of her first single, “Red High Heels.”"

Thanks to everyone who voted for “Wasted” on GAC’S Top 20 Countdown! “Wasted”is once again in the #4 position, having spent a total of 24 weeks on the chart and moving from last week’s #6 spot.

Here are the upcoming video airtimes for Carrie Underwood videos today on GAC:

12:06 AM - “Wasted”

And here are the upcoming video airtimes for Carrie Underwood tomorrow on GAC:

06:39 AM - “Wasted”

06:39 PM - “Wasted”

According to CMA, the final nominees for the 3007 CMA Awards will be announced live Thursday, August 30, on both network and cable television. The ABC network will make the announcement from New York City’s “Good Morning America” studios while a special edition of CMT’s “CMT Insider” will do the honors from Nashville.

The 41st Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Sommet Center Wednesday, November 7 (8:00-11 PM EST) on ABC.

Don’t forget to vote for “Wasted” on GAC to bring Carrie back up from the #5 position on GAC’s Top 20 Countdown and all the way to #1.

Here are the upcoming airtimes for Carrie Underwood videos today on GAC:

04:46 PM - “Wasted”
10:49 PM - “Wasted”

CMT has an article about Carrie Underwood making history with her new single “So Small”, as well as being nominated for an MTV Video Music Award:

“Carrie Underwood’s music video for “Before He Cheats” has resulted in her nomination in the best new artist category of the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. Underwood’s video was produced by Randy Brewer and directed by Roman White. Others in the new artist category include Amy Winehouse, Gym Class Heroes, Lily Allen and the trio of Peter Bjorn and John. The 2007 MTV Video Music Awards takes place Sept. 9 and will air live on MTV from Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. … In other news, Underwood’s new release, “So Small,” has become the highest-debuting single by any country female artist in the history of Nielsen BDS, the company that tracks radio airplay. The single is already being played on 128 reporting stations and enters the Billboard country airplay chart at No. 20. She co-wrote the song with Luke Laird and Hillary Lindsey. Underwood will release a new album on Oct. 23.”

Carrie Underwood’s label Arista Nashville also released this press release:

“Carrie Underwood’s “So Small” Scores the Highest Debut of Any Country Female in Chart History!

 Country Radio Delivers Big Numbers, with 128 Reporting Stations Already Playing the Track on its Official Airplay Impact Date!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2007 Nashville, TN – Reigning CMA and ACM Female Vocalist and double GRAMMY winner Carrie Underwood broke multiple records with the blockbuster radio and sales success from her debut disc, Some Hearts, and the excitement continues unabated as “So Small,” the first single from her upcoming album, explodes onto the Billboard/R&R country airplay chart at #20, marking the highest chart entry by a solo country female in Nielsen BDS history. Written by Carrie with Luke Laird and GRAMMY-winning songwriter Hillary Lindsey (who co-wrote three tracks on Carrie’s debut disc, including the chart-topping “Wasted” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel”), “So Small” was this week’s most-added new single at Billboard/R&R and Country Aircheck.

Serviced to country radio last Monday, with an official airplay impact date of today, “So Small” is already spinning on a whopping 128 country reporting stations. With its #20 debut at Billboard/R&R and a #25 entry in Country Aircheck, the track also earns the distinction of becoming the highest debuting single of any country artist this year. Underwood’s to-be-titled new album, which will include “So Small,” arrives October 23.”

Here are the upcoming airtimes for Carrie Underwood videos today on GAC:

08:27 AM - “Wasted”

02:56 PM - “Wasted”

06:15 PM - “Before He Cheats”

Ok, this is a few days old but it took a while to surface. Former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach has issued the following statement in regards to Carrie Underwood’s cover of “I Remember You” on ‘American Idol’:

 ”Wow! It will never cease to blow my mind when another successful artist covers one of my tunes. Here is the ‘American Idol’ herself, Carrie Underwood, doing [SKID ROW's] ‘I Remember You’.

“Never in my wildest dreams could I ever have imagined, coming up with this song in a New Jersey garage and recording it in the studio that 20 years later it would live on in an arena stage being sung by a country artist in the USA while I am still singing it myself on stages worldwide.

“Carrie Underwood, if you ever read this, ROCK ON and congrats on all your well-deserved success! You are very talented and I am 100% honored that you are singing this song!! Sounds incredible and I wish you all the best!!”

 There is also footage of Carrie Underwood performing the song recently at a concert.

Thats a pretty nice statement for Sebastian Bach to make. he was one of the most famous rockers of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s as a member of Skid Row. The band was famous for songs such as “I Remember You” and “18 And Life”.  You can check out the entire article here.

GAC also has an article on Carrie Underwood’s new single “So Small”:

“Carrie Underwood has released the first single from her much anticipated sophomore album. “So Small” is one of several tracks on the upcoming project that Carrie co-wrote.

Of the new single, Carrie says,”‘So Small’ is a feeling song that talks about how people invest so much of their time and energy into things that aren’t really important. And you don’t really realize that until it’s too late.

“We’re all guilty of it, as I know I am, of just letting silly things get in the way,” she continues. “The smallest thing can almost ruin my day, and at some point I realize, ‘Good gracious, Carrie! What are you doing?’ I have a great life, and we need to remember the things that are truly important.”

Co-writers of the song are Luke Laird and Hillary Lindsey, who co-wrote three tracks on Carrie’s debut disc, Some Hearts, including the chart-topping “Wasted” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” Carrie’s yet-to-be-titled new CD also reunites her with producer Mark Bright, who helmed seven tracks on Some Hearts. ”

Here are the upcoming video airtimes for Carrie Underwood today on GAC:

 02:46 PM - “Before he Cheats”

 05:56 PM - “Wasted”
 

Tonight is the weekly Top 20 Countdown on GAC. We’ll see if Carrie Underwood manages to hold on to #4 with “Wasted” or is she moves up or down a notch. The ringtone for “Wasted” is one of the featured ringtones over at CMT, if you wanna drop by and get it. The ringtone lasts 10 seconds, and features the line “‘Cause I don’t wanna spend my life jaded, waitin, to wake up one day and find”…You can get it for $2.99 which may be good or bad depending on how interested in the ringtone you may be.

Askmen.com has Carrie Underwood featured as “Singer of The Week“. The article lasts for about three pages, and has an introduction to Carrie as well as details about her life, and comments for the author. The article is insightful, and spends most of the space praising Carrie’s looks, voice, and most everything else you can think of. Carrie is also featured in ‘Askmen’s Top 99 Women of 2007′. She was ranked around #78 last I checked, but that’s more than likely going to drop in the near future. Anyhow, here’s the scheduled airtimes for tonight and tomorrow for Carrie’s videos on GAC:

Upcoming video airtimes for Carrie Underwood for Friday July 27:

06:00 PM - “Before He Cheats”

07:28 PM - “Jesus Take The Wheel”

(Note: This does not include the video for “Wasted” on the Top 20 Countdown)

Upcoming video airtimes for Carrie Underwood for Saturday July 28:

09:40 AM - “Wasted”

American Idol Carrie Underwood has her Dallas Cowboys QB in hot pursuit.  According to a report in this week’s National Enquirer, football star Tony Romo wants Carrie back in his life- so he tried to make her jealous by stepping out with a Carrie look-alike!  And amazingly, it looks like Tony’s plan is working, because the former twosome are back in contact.The mag reports that Carrie dumped the Dallas Cowboys quarterback because he refused to put their relationship before his football career.  But Tony regrets making the move that ended the eight-month relationship.  And he definitely got Carrie’s attention when he was spotted with another woman- his former college girlfriend.

“Carrie was devastated when she found out that he’d been squiring around a blonde who looked a lot like her,” an insider told The Enquirer. “His plan was pretty transparent.  After all, the jealousy ploy worked with Tony when Carrie felt their romance was faltering last year and she was linked to actor Jesse Metcalfe and musician Oliver Trevena.  “But that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt her any less.”

Earlier this month, Tony played in the Tri-Course Amateur Gold Tournament in Racine, Wis., and was seen walking around the course with a stunning blonde.  That blonde is his old flame Crystal Kaslper, The Enquirer reports that it has learned exclusively.

“They split before Tony made it big with the Cowboys,” a source revealed. ‘And what was funny is that during the tournament everyone kiddingly referred to Crystal as ‘Carrie’.”  Ouch!   Apparently, that wasn’t so funny to Carrie.

“Carrie was crying for a solid day when she heard that he’d been seen with another woman so soon after their split- especially someone who was so physically similar,” said the insider.  Carrie, 24, called it quits with the 27-year-old athlete in early June after a passionate but rocky romance, which stalled more than once because Tony put his career over his relationship with the Grammy-winning country star.

“She decided to end it because she was tired of coming in second to The Cowboys,” continued the insider. “Carrie understands the demands of a career, but she just couldn’t tolerate Tony choosing sports over love when he felt it was convenient.  She reasoned that if a relationship is worthwhile, you make time for it.  She wanted a firm commitment from Tony, but he couldn’t deliver.”

Even though Carrie was the one who ended things, insiders say she still wants Tony- and seeing him with another woman really upset her.

After a few days of tearful soul-searching, Carrie decided to reconnect with Tony- and they have started phoning and text-messaging each other again, adds the insider.

But that doesn’t mean she’s completely ready to take him back, the report claims.  “Carrie’s holding strong.  She’s busy playing live dates, recording a new album and decorating her new house outside Nashville. And even though she’s not dating anyone new, she won’t compromise her principals when it comes to love.”

“Her career is a big deal, too, and she feels if she can put their relationship over business so can he.  Now it’s a battle of wills.  And you can bet it Tony bent just a little when it comes to their relationship, Carrie would be back with him in a second.”

Source: The National Ledger

Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform on the second annual CBS show “Fashion Rocks“, which will kick off New York’s Fall Fashion Week by celebrating the best in fashion and music.”Fashion Rocks” is a celebrity concert event that honors the relationship between music and fashion. The event is set to take place at Radio City Music Hall and will feature Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw, among others.

This year’s edition of “Fashion Rocks” will air Friday, September 7, 2007 at 9PM EST/8PM CST on CBS.